After getting out of the car, Xu Mu headed straight toward Chen Xuan's house.
This Zhou Xia woman was something else — it was broad daylight, yet she was already "deep in conversation" with someone inside.
Xu Mu's spiritual sense could even pick up their voices. It felt as if he were standing right in front of them.
"Brother Mu."
Chen Xuan saw him coming and stepped out from the living room into the courtyard.
"What happened?" Xu Mu asked.
"Our neighbor — that woman — you were right. She really is from the Yin–Yang Sect."
Chen Xuan grabbed Xu Mu's arm and pulled him inside.
Xu Mu wasn't surprised, but he was curious. "How do you know?"
"Ask her? No way. I ran into a Yin–Yang Sect guy in the back mountain today. He was attacking a woman."
Chen Xuan explained, "If their people are active nearby, that woman probably belongs to the same sect."
Xu Mu chuckled. "You really have a talent for this — saved another damsel, huh? Did she offer to repay you with her body this time?"
"Of course not! I was wearing a black robe, and I used your name. You taught me that, remember? Out in the world, your identity is what you make it."
"Damn… you actually took that advice seriously," Xu Mu said, speechless.
Chen Xuan sighed. "Brother Mu, what should I do? I don't want an evil cultivator living next door. What if she ruins my innocence?"
"Relax," Xu Mu said with a grin. "I've got thirteen ways to deal with her."
"What are they?" Chen Xuan asked.
"The simplest one — call the Cleaners. The Yin–Yang Sect's members are all wanted criminals."
Chen Xuan nodded. "Right. Let's just report her to the Sanitation Bureau."
"Don't rush. We need evidence first," Xu Mu said. "Let's test her a bit — see if she's really from the Yin–Yang Sect."
Truth be told, Xu Mu didn't want Zhou Xia arrested just yet.
He was still very curious about the Ye Chen she'd mentioned before.
If that man was the Dragon King, Xu Mu needed to know what kind of relationship she had with him.
He'd use this opportunity to find out more before deciding what to do.
"That makes sense. Let's visit her then — she should be home," Chen Xuan said, standing up.
"Not yet," Xu Mu replied. "She's probably… busy right now. Let's wait until it's dark — when the moon's high and the wind's cold. That's when we'll grab her."
Xu Mu lounged on Chen Xuan's sofa, scrolling through his phone.
He'd already texted Ye Tong to tell her not to make dinner tonight.
But plans never keep up with reality — before night fell, Zhou Xia showed up herself.
"Sister Zhou, what brings you here?" Xu Mu greeted her naturally.
Chen Xuan smiled politely from the couch.
"I just bought some purple grapes," Zhou Xia said sweetly. "Thought you boys might like some, so I brought them over."
She placed the plastic bag on the table, her gaze lingering on Xu Mu — practically drooling.
This man looked powerful.
That thirty-something guy from earlier in the city had bragged about his stamina… yet lasted all of three seconds.
Men loved to talk big, but few could live up to it.
If she weren't under strict orders to stay low-key, she'd have killed him already.
"Thanks," Xu Mu said casually, all the while thinking how to get her to talk.
"No need to be polite — we're neighbors," Zhou Xia smiled, then looked at him teasingly.
"You're quite the joker, little brother. Why did you lie to me last time and say your name was Ye Chen?"
Xu Mu glanced at Chen Xuan, who looked just as confused — he had no idea Xu Mu had used a fake name.
"Hahaha, last night I went to visit Brother Chen," Zhou Xia continued with a giggle. "He kept calling you 'Brother Mu,' so I knew you'd lied to me."
"Well… that's awkward," Xu Mu said with an easy smile. "To be honest, Ye Chen and I don't get along, so I often borrow his name instead."
"Oh? And who exactly is this Ye Chen you speak of?" Zhou Xia asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Funny — I remember you knowing him too. What's your relationship with him?" Xu Mu countered.
"We've met a few times, that's all," Zhou Xia said smoothly, careful not to reveal anything.
"I see," Xu Mu nodded, smoothly changing the topic. "By the way, Sister Zhou, what line of work are you in?"
"I'm in wholesale," she said with a coy grin. "When business is good, I sell cigarettes. When it's bad, I sell coal."
Xu Mu couldn't help admiring her honesty.
When business boomed, selling "smokes" probably meant things were heating up — in more ways than one.
"Sister Zhou, we're meeting some friends tonight, so we won't keep you," Xu Mu said, standing up.
He didn't want to waste any more time on her — it would be easier to just grab and interrogate her later.
"Alright then, I'll take my leave," Zhou Xia said cheerfully, rising from her seat.
She hadn't expected the two men to have such restraint.
She'd been dropping hints like crazy, yet they hadn't taken the bait.
After she left, Xu Mu and Chen Xuan stepped outside together.
Before leaving, Xu Mu installed a pinhole camera in the woods across from the house.
He'd already swept the area with his senses — no one else was nearby, and Zhou Xia had returned to her bedroom.
Once everything was set, the two of them drove off, parking several kilometers away along the highway.
Xu Mu pulled out his phone and connected to the surveillance feed, watching Zhou Xia's movements.
The landlord had mentioned she went out every night — he intended to see exactly where.
As dusk fell, Zhou Xia donned a coat, mask, and hat, then rode off on her electric scooter.
"Old Chen, let's go."
Xu Mu pulled a black robe from the car. "Don't talk later. I'll handle the voice — I'm good with impressions."
"Got it," Chen Xuan said, pulling his own black robe from the woven bag.
They didn't take the car — instead, they ran along the roadside, waiting at a spot she'd have to pass.
Moments later, Zhou Xia appeared.
Xu Mu leapt from the roadside, grabbed her shoulder, and dragged her down into the small grove below.
Chen Xuan followed, grabbing her scooter and tossing it down after them.
Zhou Xia landed on the soft earth, looking up at the two black-robed figures.
She removed her mask and smiled faintly. "Two brothers, is that you?"
Her tone was teasing, but her eyes were sharp — the height and build matched too perfectly.
Not just one of them, but both — there was no mistaking it.
"Brothers? I'm old enough to be your grandfather," Xu Mu said, speaking in the raspy tone of an old man.
Chen Xuan almost jumped — the voice was perfect.
Zhou Xia's eyes narrowed. She'd guessed wrong.
"So… what do you two want? If it's a robbery, I don't have any money," she said, forcing another smile.